Profiles in Persecution: Fawzeya Mashaalla Mohamed Haji

Fawzeya is a 56-year-old Bahraini woman who is currently being detained in the women’s prison in Isa Town. She has suffered ill treatment in prison, including denial of medical care by Bahraini prison authorities. On 15 December 2017, a group of masked officers in plain clothing arrived in approximately thirty cars and raided Fawzeya’s home.[…]

Bahrain’s NIHR Ignores Government Violations, Endorses Abuses in 2017 Report

19 April 2018 – In its new annual report for 2017, Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) actively endorsed some of the government’s most severe abuses, including the imprisonment of leading human rights defender Nabeel Rajab. Although 2017 was one of the worst years for Bahrain’s human rights situation since 2011, the NIHR “lauded” the[…]

Analysis of the Fifth Annual Report of the Bahraini National Institution for Human Rights

Introduction and Summary Click here for the full analysis. On 28 March 2018, Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR; also referred to as the B-NIHR and BNIHR) submitted its 2017 annual report “on the Progress Achieved in the Human Rights Situation” to the king. It is the NIHR’s fifth annual report since its establishment[…]

Profiles in Persecution: Hani and Hussain Marhoon

Hani Marhoon is the father of Hussain Marhoon, both of whom were arbitrarily arrested by Bahraini authorities in the span of four years. Hussain was just 16 years old at the time of his arrest, which came four years after his father’s detention. Both father and son were tortured during interrogation and continue to face[…]

Top Officials Endorse Police Campaign Against Digital Rights in Bahrain

11 April 2018 – Two weeks ago, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced it would expand efforts to suppress online criticism and arrested five individuals on charges related to “misuse of social media” or similar allegations. Bahraini state media reports indicate that the number of digital rights arrests has grown to at least 12[1] since[…]